Toy



Jan. 7, 1930. ,A. s. TOTH 1,742,737

TOY

Filed March 8, 1927 S. Toth IN VEN TOR 4 BY Manama A TTORNE Y clearly the details of construction.

Patented Jan. 7, 1930 PATENT? oF I-CE ALVIN S. 'I'OTH, F CLEVELAND, OHIO TOY Application filed March 8, 1927. Serial No. 173,637.

The present invention relates to wheeled toys, and has for its object to provide a de-- vice of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby it can be propelled forwardly by a child riding thereon with a motion having much similarity to that of a galloping horse.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a wheeled figure toy of the character mentioned which has a strong anddurable construction, which can be easily propelled and guided across a fioor or pavement by a child seated thereon, and which is moved forwardly with a galloping action imitating that of animalsin rapid movement.

WVhile one particular form of the invention is shown and described for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

F or a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which, I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheeled figure toy which is constructed in accordance with the invention, portions being broken away andshown in section to illustrate more Figure 2 is a top plan view of the toy.

Figure 3 is an enlarged bottom view of a' portion of the channeled seat carrying bar. Figure at is an'enlarged detail View of the c connecting rod and associated springs, portions being broken away.

Figure is a rear view of the toy with portions broken away and omitted.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated on all of the views of the drawing by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the front standard of the toy, the

upper end of the standard being shown as provided with a head portion 1 which-may simulate in outline of the head of a horse or other animal. The lower end of the front standard is bifurcated, and a front wheel 2 is journa-led therein. The upper end of the bifurcation is formed with an inclined wall which cooperates with a clutch roller 3 to prevent backward rotation of the front wheel without interfering with the possibility of forward rotation of the said wheel. The roller 3 lies loosely in the spaceformed by the wheelfZ, the inclined wall of the bifurcation and the spring leaf 4 which engages the roller 3 and normally holds it in operative position. 7 69 At an intermediate point .in the length thereof the front standard 1 is cut away or recessed to receive a laterally swinging pivot block 5. As shown on the drawings, this piv- I ot block 5 is circular in shape and mounted to ,5

swing laterally about a substantially vertical axis extendingthrough the center therea of. A pivot pin 6 connects the top of the block 5 to the upper edge of the recess in which the block is mounted, while a pivot pin 7 5 which extends downwardly from the bottom of the pivot block passes through an eye 8 projecting rearwardly from the front standard and terminates in a ring 9. i

The forward end of a longitudinally eX- 5 tending seat supporting bar 10 is bifurcated toreceive the pivot block 5 and pivotally connected to the center of the said block by means of a transverse pivot bolt 11. The seat supporting bar is thus connected to the front standard lso that it can have both an up and down and a lateral swinging move ment relative thereto. The rear end of the bar 10 has the seat 12 mounted thereon. Spaced brackets 13 extend downwardly from opposite sides of the seat 12 and have a transversely disposed rock shaft 14; journaled therein. The ends of the rock shaft extend through the brackets 13 and have the hind leg members 15 rigidly secured thereto. These 9 hind leg members 15 are shown as diverging downwardly so that they form a good support tohold the seat against lateral tipping. The lower ends of the hind leg memv bers are bifurcatedto receive the rear wheels 5 16. The upper ends of the bifurcations terminate in inclined end walls, and suitable clutch members are provided to prevent backward rotation of the rear wheels 16 without interferring with the possibility of rotation thereof in a forward direction. As shown on the drawings these clutch members are in the form of discs 17 which are eccentrically mounted in the leg portions 15, the pivots beseat supporting bar 10 is channeled, as shown at 20 and the intermediate portion of the rod 19 is received within this channel. A plate 21 is secured in position on the bottom of the seat supporting bar so that it extends across the channel and serves to confine the rod 11 in positionwithin the channel. Stop pins 22 extend through the plate on opposite sides of the rod 19 and provide. bearings for coil springs 23 and 24 which are applied to the rod on opposite sides thereof. The rear coil spring 23 is considerably stronger than the front coil spring 24. A nut 25 which is threaded on the rear end of the longitudinal rod 19 provides the rear abutment for the spring 23 and the tension of this spring can be regulated as desired by adjusting the position of the nut. The other spring 24 is interposed between the pins 22 and a collar 26 on the rod.

The forward end of the connecting rod or link 19 is bent laterally at 19 for attachment with the ring 9 at the lower end of the pivot pin 7 The rear end of the link member 19 isconnected by a sleeve 27 to a fitting 28, said fitting being formed with a lateral arm which passes loosely through a corresponding opening in the upper end of the crank arm 18. Hand holds 29 project laterally from opposite sides of the upper end of the standard 1, while foot rests 30 project laterally from opposite sides of the standard at a point below the pivot bolt 11.

In using the toy a child will occupy the seat 12 and grasp the hand holds 29, preferably placing his feet on the foot rests 30. The upper end of the upright standard 1 can then be reciprocated back and forth by the child without difiiculty. When the child pulls upon the hand holds 29 and swings the upper end of the standard 1 rearwardly, he lower end of the said standard moves forwardly over the floor, such movement being permitted by the wheel 2, and backward movement of the toy being prevented by reason of the fact that backward rotation of the rear Wheels 1.6 is prevented by the eccentric clutches 17. As the lower end of the standard 1 is moved forwardly the connecting rod or link member 19 is drawn in the same direction and the crank arm 18 pulled forwardly, thereby tending to swing the hind legs 15 rearwardly, although this rearward movement of the hind legs is prevented by reason of the fact that the wheels 16 at the lower ends are locked against rotation, with the result that the movement of the hind legs 15 operates to propel the toy forwardly. \Vhen this movement has been completed the child will push the upper end of the front standard 1 away from him, thereby tending to swing the lower end of the said standard inwardly. Owing to the fact that the wheel 2 at the lower end of the front standard is locked against backward rotation this will result in another forward movement of the toy. At the same time that the lower end of the front standard 1 is moved to advance the toy the connecting rod or link 19 swings the crank arm 18 forwardly and permits the upper ends of the hind leg members 15 to drop forwardly, this movement being permitted by reason of the fact that the rear wheels 16 are permitted to 1:0- tate in a forward direction although they are locked against backward rotation. By successively swinging the front standard backwardly and forwardly the toy has successive forward movements imparted thereto, and the lower end of the front standard and hind leg members 16 are swung toward and away from each other in such a manner as to cause the toy to move forwardly with a motion similar to that of a galloping horse. The seat 12 is lowered slightly when the bottom of the front standard 1 is swung forwardly and the top of hind leg members 15 dropped forwardly, and the coil spring 23 is utilized to assist in the reverse movement in which the seat 12 is raised, the strength of the spring being just sufficient so that an equal amount of energy will be required to swing the front standard in both directions. The spring 24: is a much lighter spring and acts as a buffer spring. The toy has an appearance and a motion which is very pleasing to children, and the construction is such that successive forward increments of movement are imparted to the toy as the head portion of the front standard is swung back and forth to cause the toy to rock up and down with a galloping motion.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A galloping toy including an upright leg member swing in opposite directions, a

spring associated with the link means to hold the parts yieldably in one position, and means at the lower ends of the front standard and leg member, respectively, and adapted for en gage-ment therewith to permit forward movement of the members over a supporting sur-e face while preventing backward movement of the members over the supporting surface.

3. A galloping toy including an upright front standard, a rearwardly extending bar pivotally connected at its forward end to the upright standard, the latter being adapted to be swung back and forth about its pivotal connection with the bar, supporting means for the rear end of the bar including a swinging leg member, a crank arm rigid with the leg member, a link operatively connecting the crank arm to the front standard whereby the lower end of the front standard and the leg member swing in opposite directions, guide means on the rearwardly extending bar slidably engaging an intermediate portion of the link, and means on the lower extremities of the front standard and leg member, re spectively, to permit forward movement of the said members over a supporting surface while preventing rearward movement thereof on the supporting surface.

0 4-. A galloping toy including an upright front standard, a rearwardly extending bar pivotally connected at its forward end to the upright standard, the latter being adapted to be swung back and forth about its pivotal connection with the bar, supporting means for the rear end of the standard including a swinging leg member, a crank arm rigid with the swinging leg member, a link operatively connecting the crank arm to the front standard whereby the lower end of the front standard and the leg member swing in opposite directions, guide means on the rearwardly extending bar slidably engaging an intermediate portion of the link, a spring surround ing the link and engaging the guide member, said spring normally tending to move the link in one direction to hold the parts in one position, and means at th lower extremities of the front standard and leg member, respectively, to permit forward movement of the said members over a supporting surface while preventing backward movement there of over the supporting surface.

5. A gallopingtoy including an upright front standard, a rearwardly extending bar pivotally connected at its forward end to the upright standard, the latter being adapted to be swung back and forthabout its pivotal "connection with the bar,,a seat on the bar, a

transverse rock shaft carried by the seat, leg members rigid with the rock shaft, a crank arm rigid with the rock shaft, a link con necting the crank arm to the front standard whereby the lower end of the front standard and leg member swing in opposite directions,

guide means on the bar slidably engaging an intermediate portion of the link, and means at the lower extremities of the front standard and swinging legmembers, respectively,

to permit forward movement thereof over a supporting surface while prevent ng backward movement thereof.

6. A galloping toy including an upright front standard, a pivot block mounted upon the standard to swing about a substantially vertical axis, a rearwardly extending bar pivotally connected to the pivot block to swing about a substantially horizontal axis, supporting means for the rear end of the bar including a swinging leg member, a crank arm rigid with the leg member, a link operatively connecting the crank arm and pivot block, whereby the lower end of the standard and the leg member swing in opposite directions, andmeans at the lower extremities of the front standard and leg member, respectively, for

front standard, a pivot block, pivot members connecting the pivot block to the standard whereby it is free to turn about a substantially vertical axis, a rearwardly extending bar having the forward end thereof pivotally connected to the pivot block to swing about a substantially horizontal axis, supporting means for the rear end of the bar including a swinging leg member, a crank arm rigid with the swinging leg member, a link connecting the crank arm to one of the pivot members of the pivot block whereby the lower end of the upright standard and the leg memb er swing in opposite directions, and means at the lower extremities of the front standard and leg member, respectively, for permitting 1 0 forward movement of the said members over a supporting surface while preventing rearward movement.

8. A galloping-toy including a front standard, a rearwardly extending bar pivotally connected at its forward end to the front standard, the latter being adaptedv to be swung back and forth about its pivotal con nection with the bar, supporting means for the rear end of the bar including a swinging leg member, a crank arm ri id with the leg member, a link connecting the crank arm to the front standard whereby the lower end of the front standard and the leg member swing in opposite directions, guide means on the bar slidably engaging an intermediate portion of the link, abutments on the link on opposite sides of the guide means, coil springs surrounding the link on opposite sides of the guide means and engaging the respective abutments, one of the coil springs being stronger than the other coil spring and normally tending to move the link in one direction to hold the parts in one position, and means at the lower extremities of the front standard and leg member, respectively, to permit forward movement thereof over a supporting surface while preventing backward movement.

' 'In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALVIN S. TOTH. 

